Thank
You Lord for being there in every step of the way. Truly, " Without good
direction, people lose their way; the more wise counsel you follow, the better
your chances" (Proverbs 11:14, MSG) and "Plans are established by
seeking advice; so if you wage war, obtain guidance" (Proverbs 20:18, NIV).
After weeks of seeking God's will and guidance for this semester through
counseling and advice seeking from wise friends, finally I got enrolled with
peace in my heart...no worries or doubts but excitement and a looking-forward
attitude! I have only one subject and one semester remaining after this school
year and I will graduate earlier than I have planned.
As
for my health, four weeks ago I did all my regular medical laboratory check up
such as FBS, cholesterol, creatinine, and other numbers that need monitoring
including CD4 test or number of Commanding Officers white blood cells that is
responsible in keeping our immune system healthy and well functioning.
Virtually all the results are in normal range and the CD4 cells has increased
to a whooping 631 from 457 last year praise God! Healthy lifestyle physically,
mentally, emotionally but more importantly, spiritually is truly the way
towards healthy living! Thank you Lord for this miracle, another proof that God
still heals today!
Last
week, for the first time in my five years of traveling, I have encountered
challenges from check-in to immigration on my way to Bangkok to participate at
the pre-conference of interfaith networks on AIDS in Asia at ICAAP 11 or
International Conference on AIDS in Asia Pacific. As I was waiting for things
to happen whether I can get through or not, I was reminded how I got in this
situation from the start and asked God if I was really in the right place or if
it is really His will to be here. But one thing I have noticed with myself
was…I have never been that calm and at peace in a stressful situation like
that, and believed that things will go well if this is God’s will. In fact I
was able to finish several pages of the book that is a required reading at
school, while waiting. Well, I told myself, “If this was the old me, I could
have ranted and simply backed out and went home.” Thus, who says people cannot
change? But moreover, and I believed this is the best thing I realized in the
situation…I have simply trusted the Lord and let Him take over of the situation
instead of yielding up to worrying and stressing myself out. Hmmm…Lord thank
you so much for I think you have changed me and still changing me to become the
man that you truly want me to become.
Aside
from meeting and becoming friends with some few of the key people in the
Interfaith Network of Religious Leaders Living with HIV&AIDS (INERELA) and
Asia Interfaith Network on AIDS (AINA), very briefly I was tasked to present
the plan for the Philippines as we engage in AINA. For now, I am still
uncertain of the reason why the Lord has brought me in this conference. Perhaps
it’s more of building my network, testing my faith and the truth I believe in,
and reaffirming my true calling in Jesus as I met and talked with this very
strong HIV+ woman Pastor and a couple of faith leaders in same-sex
relationships for the first time. Nevertheless, I praise the Lord and thank Him
for this short but still blessed trip.
